Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Support Our Trails

Yardie Gorge Trail, Cape Range NP Yardie Gorge Trail, Cape Range NP

  • 1-3 hours
  • 2 km
    • Bush Walk Class 4

      Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

Yardie Gorge Trail is a two-kilometre walk overlooking the ancient Yardie Creek gorge. With amazing views of red limestone cliff faces and the opportunity to see a wonderful array of birds and wildlife, including the rare black-footed wallaby, euros and red kangaroos. From the top, the views into the creek and out to the Ningaloo Reef are purely spectacular.

Yardiecreek Gorge 1 Caperangenp©Tonyhoward Dec
Earn 2 Points Gorges Aboriginal Culture
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

The Yardie Gorge Trail is located in the spectacular Yardie Creek gorge, one hour's drive from Exmouth, Western Australia. Starting at river level the trail slowly climbs up the red rock cliffs of the gorge, becoming more difficult as you ascend the range; however, the views into the gorge are well worth the effort.

Follow the 0.6 km Yardie Nature Walk and continue on for another 0.4 km along the Yardie Creek Gorge Trail. (2km return) The trail is initially an easy walk, but becomes more difficult as you ascend the range.

Centuries of erosion have formed a spectacular multi-coloured gorge. Hidden within the safety of the gorge walls is a colony of black-footed rock wallabies. These timid creatures seek shelter on ledges along the gorge walls resting during daylight hours, coming out to feed in the cool of the night.

Yardie is the only gorge in the area with permanent water however this is saltwater fed from the ocean. This interesting ecosystem has mangrove areas that provide roosting sites for many bird species while the sheltered waters are a sanctuary for many marine animals. The beginnings of the gorge are deep in the limestone range. 

Milyering, the National Park Visitor Centre features interpretive displays, audio-visual facilities and a library containing a wealth of information on the National and Marine Parks to help visitors appreciate the natural environment. National Park rangers are on site to assist with enquiries.

Please contact the Ningaloo Visitor Centre for more information about boat tours that operate daily within the gorge.

Ningaloo Visitor Centre

(08) 9949 3070

Other Links

Be trail ready for Yardie Gorge Trail, Cape Range NP

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Allow 2 hours

Length

2km return

What To Pack

Group B - Hiking & Long Distance Trails (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

Yardie Creek car park, Cape Range National Park, 90km (1 hour) drive from Exmouth on a sealed road, which is 1300km (16.5 hours) north of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 4

Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

First section is easy, becomes harder as it narrows and requires navigation of rocks and small gullies

Hazards & Warnings

Trail is subject to intermittent salt water flooding. Please phone ahead to check conditions. Trail surface is gravel and rock with cliff edges so caution is advised.

Facilities

At the main car park there are toilets and a short walk from the carpark you'll find a picnic area under some shady Tamarisk trees.  Cape Range National Park's Yardie Campsite is nearby.  For camping, booking needs to be made online prior to your visit.  These campsites are extemely popular and you can book up to 180 days in advance.

  • Camping
  • Lookouts
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
  • Car Park
  • Shaded Area
  • Coach Parking
  • All accessible toilet facilities

Best time of year

April to September

Fees

Entry fee to Cape Range National Park - http://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/know/park-entry-fees

Trail Access

Road from Exmouth

Prohibited Items

No pets, campfires or firearms.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete Yardie Gorge Trail, Cape Range NP to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 2 Points

Earn 2 points towards
your TrailsWA level

Gorges Aboriginal Culture

Earn the Gorges badge when you complete this trail.

This trail is part of the Aboriginal Culture badge.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

3 trail goers have rated Yardie Gorge Trail, Cape Range NP as 3.67 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Jacey Kraut

Reviewed 26 Jul 2019, 6:27pm

Family of four with master 8 and miss 6. We loved this walk. Once on the gorge walk trail we saw the rock wallabies and gorgeous views. Miss 4 discovered some amazing bugs, perhaps jewel bugs we took our time making little discoveries and took 2 hours. Fantastic.
steve bennett

Reviewed 17 Aug 2016, 8:21am

Excellent short walk, great views of the gorge and out to sea. It was excellent to see that the trail was so well used with families during the school holidays and yet it wasn't overcrowded. This is a must for people visiting Cape Range.
Claire Hearn

Reviewed 22 Apr 2015, 11:43am

I didn't walk it but did paddle. The red rust cliffs on either side are home to a pair of eagles, who must have been fishing somewhere else, and the rare black-footed rock wallaby which I spotted camouflaged in a crevice.
Read about area on https://journeysclaire.wordpress.com/tag/coral-coast/

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around Coral Coast

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern